Linux - HardwareThis forum is for Hardware issues.
Having trouble installing a piece of hardware? Want to know if that peripheral is compatible with Linux?

Notices

Welcome to LinuxQuestions.org, a friendly and active Linux Community.

You are currently viewing LQ as a guest. By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics, receive our newsletter, use the advanced search, subscribe to threads and access many other special features. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today!

Note that registered members see fewer ads, and ContentLink is completely disabled once you log in.

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. If you need to reset your password, click here.

Having a problem logging in? Please visit this page to clear all LQ-related cookies.

Introduction to Linux - A Hands on Guide

This guide was created as an overview of the Linux Operating System, geared toward new users as an exploration tour and getting started guide, with exercises at the end of each chapter.
For more advanced trainees it can be a desktop reference, and a collection of the base knowledge needed to proceed with system and network administration. This book contains many real life examples derived from the author's experience as a Linux system and network administrator, trainer and consultant. They hope these examples will help you to get a better understanding of the Linux system and that you feel encouraged to try out things on your own.

I am a newbi both to this site and linux only installed Mandrake 8.2 for the first time 3 days ago. I am trying to install my three 3G USB dongle in Mandrake it seems to see the dongle in usbview and if I lsusb form the command line. I did see some where that the driver had not been loaded, I have been trying to use setserials to set a virtual serial port to the device but as I am a windows engineer and am not sure of the process and commands need HELP... I have read that the 3G dongle can be used as a serial connection it seems other people have done this on the web, but I need help can anyone explain how to connect to a usb device as a serial ttys*. I must also point out that this dongle has a virtual CD-rom and a built in memory chip which installs the drivers in windows when it is plugged in.. what are the steps to install or shouldI upgrade to a newer version of linux. Many Thanks..

I am intending to upgrade when I can but will try to get it working for now as I am keen to learn..

Mandrake 8.2 is not going to work for you. It dates from 2002 and a lot has changed since then. Trust me on this one.

Get yourself a modern distro, and you'll be much happier, as Aus9 said, goto http://www.distrowatch.com/ and choose something from the top of the "most popular" list. Download it, burn it (as an iso image!), then boot from it

You (or your distro) is likely to use wvdial to establish the connection, so you could read the manpage for that too (just put man wvdial into google if you like pretty formatting). Most modern distros just recognise and use 3G dongles, but it is sometimes useful to know what is going on "Under the hood".

Anyhow, let us know how you get on.

I gave my dongle away as when I was at home, I didn't need it, and when I was away, 3's coverage was woefully inadequate.

that is the funniest post i have seen in a long time ,man why dont you just install windows millenium and dual boot it with mandrake 8.2 i hear you can upgrade to mandrakesoft 10.0 discovery for $33 today haha , sorry i know its rude but i just had to
but by the way mandriva 2010 is awsome , if you are learning linux for the first time i recommend reading some of the mandriva forms to learn some simple commands in terminal , i find gnome a much better choice for stability i find the new kde awsome except there are a few bugs to be cleaned up in the next few weeks ,gnome gui much easier to get around

You do not have to use Ubuntu from the howtos. You can use any distribution. In the past I recommend Mandrake 9.0, but I can not recommend any distribution for novice users. This because any distribution right now includes additional work after it is installed compared to the past.

An easier way is using VMware Server and run Windows in a virtual machine. The virtual machine can access USB device, so you can install the drivers. Though you will then have to setup Internet sharing in Windows.

Sure you can buy a distribution if that makes it easier. If you download the ISO file your self, use md5sum or sha1sum utility to check the integrity, and write the file to a disc using the CD/DVD burning software with image mode, it will cost nothing, but these steps gives you some skills.

Thanks for the help, I have now received my copy of Mandiva 2010. yes I did order it on line rather that download it as my dongle is the only internet access I have and the speed of downloading is slow. I am very impressed with Mandiva 2010 looks good and sees the dongle
all is well